DR.  FAY’S  SERMON 

AT  THE 

FUNERAL  OF  DR.  TTESNER, 


NT 


# 


A 


SERMON, 


DELIVERED  AT  THE  FUNERAL 


OF  THE 


KEY.  BENJAMIN  B.  WISNER,  D.  D. 


ONE  OF  THE  SECRETARIES  OF  THE  AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMIS¬ 
SIONERS  FOR  FOREIGN  MISSIONS,  AND  FORMERLY  PAS¬ 
TOR  OF  THE  OLD  SOUTH  CHURCH  IN  BOSTON. 


BY  WARREN  FAY,  D.  D. 

Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Charlestown, 


BOSTON : 

PRINTED  BY  CROCKER  AND  BREWSTER, 
47  Washington  Street. 


1835. 


The  following-  discourse,  necessarily  prepared  in  great  haste,  is  with  much 
diffidence  submitted  to  the  public,  at  the  united  request  of  the  Old  South  Church 
and  Society  in  Boston,  and  the  Prudential  Committee  of  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions — and  as  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  his 
lamented  friend  and  brother,  By  the  Author. 


SERMON. 


Psalm  xxxix.  9. 

I  was  dumb ,  I  opened  not  my  mouth ,  because  thou  didst  it . 

When  unexpected  and  peculiar  trials  come  upon  us? 
we  are  naturally  led  to  look  for  some  source  of  conso¬ 
lation,  some  ground  of  solace.  The  devout  Psalmist 
in  such  circumstances  fixed  his  eye  on  the  govern¬ 
ment  of  God,  and  uttered  his  deep  emotions  in  the 
language  of  the  text.  The  whole  psalm  teaches  us, 
that  he  was  in  deep  affliction;  but  what  his  peculiar 
trials  were,  it  may  not  be  easy  to  determine.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  he  was  pouring  out  his  lamen¬ 
tations  over  the  untimely  end  of  a  beloved  son.  It  is 
very  apparent,  that  his  submission  was  put  to  the  test, 
that  his  faith  was  tried;  and  also  that  his  heart  was 
fixed,  trusting  in  God. 

His  unwavering  resolution  was,  that  no  repining 
thought  should  lodge  in  his  mind;  that  no  murmuring 
word  should  escape  his  lips;  and  that  beholders  should 
find  no  occasion  from  his  impatience  in  the  furnace  of 
affliction,  to  reproach  the  religion  he  professed,  or  the 
God  he  served.  While  he  prayed  for  divine  support 
in  adversity,  while  he  desired  to  maintain  a  deep  and 


4 


habitual  impression  of  the  shortness  and  uncertainty 
of  life,  and  while  he  fervently  besought  the  Lord  to 
deliver  him  from  all  his  transgressions, — he  sat  down 
in  silent  and  calm  submission  under  the  pressure  of 
his  trials,  from  the  consideration  that  they  came  from 
the  hand,  and  wisdom,  and  benevolence  of  God.  “I 
was  dumb,  I  opened  not  my  mouth,  because  thou 
didst  it.”  His  submission  was  cordial; — it  was  the 
result  of  unshaken  confidence  in  the  rectitude  of  the 
divine  government,  and  exhibits  the  nature  of  true 
submission  in  adversity. 

The  text  obviously  teaches  us,  in  the  first  place, 
to  regard  afflictions  as  ordered  by  the  wise  providence 
of  God.  “I  was  dumb,  because  thou  didst  it.” 

The  doctrine  that  the  providence  of  God  is  both 
universal  and  particular,  that  it  extends  to  all  events, 
that  nothing  comes  to  pass  without  the  divine  control 
or  permission,  is  established  in  the  plainest  manner  in 
scripture.  It  is  a  truth,  which  results  from  the 
perfections  and  government  of  Jehovah,  admitted  in 
almost  any  sense.  If  there  be  a  general,  it  undeni¬ 
ably  follows,  that  there  must  be  a  particular  provi¬ 
dence.  If  God  governs  the  world  at  all,  he  must 
direct,  not  only  great  events,  but  the  smaller,  on 
which  the  great  depend;  he  must  direct  and  control 
all  events  without  exception. 

If  for  example  God  intended  the  Philistines  should 

flee  before  the  Israelites,  when  Goliah  was  slain,  he 

must  direct  to  the  sling  and  the  stone,  which  slew 

him.  If  he  intended  to  raise  the  darling;  of  Jacob’s 

© 

heart  to  the  throne  of  Egypt,  and  render  him  instru¬ 
mental  of  preserving,  not  only  the  whole  kingdom  of 
Egypt,  but  also  the  whole  nation  of  Israel  amidst 


5 


seven  years  of  famine,  he  must  direct  all  the  events, 
which  conspired  to  raise  him  to  this  elevated  situation. 
If  he  intended  to  employ  the  agency  of  Moses  in 
leading  forth  the  chosen  tribes  from  their  task  mas¬ 
ters,  and  out  of  a  land  of  bondage,  he  must  guide  and 
preserve  the  little  ark  in  which  he  lay  near  the  banks 
of  the  Nile,  and  direct  the  tear,  which  flowed  down 
the  cheek  of  this  lovely,  unprotected  babe,  and  in¬ 
duced  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh  to  adopt  him  for  her 
own  son;  an  act  which  could  not  have  been  tolerated 
in  any  other  person  in  the  kingdom. 

Yes,  my  brethren,  if  it  were  possible  for  a  spar¬ 
row  to  fall  to  the  ground  without  the  control  of  our 
heavenly  Father;  indeed  if  it  were  possible,  that  any 
event  should  transpire  beyond  the  restraint  of  the 
divine  government,  the  whole  chain  of  divine  provi¬ 
dence  would  be  broken,  and  Jehovah  would  be  liable 
at  any  moment  to  be  arrested  or  disappointed  in  the 
progress  of  his  plans  and  the  execution  of  his  benevo¬ 
lent  pleasure  by  events  not  under  his  control — by 
the  caprice  of  accident.  Deny  a  particular,  and  you 
must,  to  be  consistent,  deny  a  general  providence. 
Admit  that  one  event  may  fake  place  without  the 
divine  direction  or  permission,  and  you  may  another, 
and  another,  until  you  destroy  the  providence  of  God, 
frustrate  all  his  benevolent  designs,  and  subvert  his 
government. 

But  if  his  providence  be  particular,  as  well  as 
universal,  extending  to  the  hilling  of  a  sparrow,  and 
numbering  the  hairs  of  our  head,  it  must  be  obvious, 
that  it  extends  to  all  our  various  disappointments  and 
diversified  afflictions.  It  must  be  obvious,  that  *  no 
afflictions  come  forth  from  the  dust,  but  from  the 


6 


divine  hand;  that  no  trouble  springs  out  of  the  ground, 
but  is  of  divine  appointment.  The  providence  of 
God  is  not  to  be  excluded  from  any  event;  for 
“Jehovah  ruleth  over  all.”  Job  sinned  not  with  his 
lips,  when  he  inquired,  “What,  shall  we  receive  good 
at  the  hand  of  God,  and  shall  we  not  receive  evil? 
The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away,  and 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.” 

The  text  also  teaches  us,  in  the  second  place ,  that 
because  our  afflictions  are  ordered  by  the  wise  provi¬ 
dence  of  God,  we  should  exercise  unreserved  sub¬ 
mission. 

“I  opened  not  my  mouth,  because  thou  didst  it.” 
We  should  consider,  that  God  knows  when  and  how 
to  afflict  us.  He  knows  when  it  is  best  to  take  our 
dearest  earthly  comforts  from  us,  and  which  to  re¬ 
move,  and  which  to  continue.  He  knows  also  the 
exact  measure  of  affliction,  with  which  it  is  best  we 
should  be  visited.  Were  it  left  to  us  or  to  our  friends 
to  mete  out  our  trials,  they  would  be  in  measure  so 
small,  and  under  circumstances  so  alleviating,  they 
would  scarcely  be  felt.  Were  our  afflictions  under 
the  control  of  our  enemies,  they  might  be  so  multi¬ 
plied,  that  we  should  sink  under  their  pressure.  But 
it  is  our  consolation  to  know,  that  they  are  meted  out 
by  him,  who  knows  just  how  much  correction  his 
children  need,  and  when  it  will  produce  the  best 
effect,  and  answer  the  most  valuable  purposes.  Our 
afflictions  therefore  can  never  be  ill  timed,  or  unduly 
proportioned.  If  God  seem  to  lay  his  hand  upon  our 
dearest  earthly  comforts,  and  multiply  our  sorrows, 
as  though  he  were  about  to  strip  us  of  blessings,  it 


7 


mast  be  right  and  best.  His  knowledge  embraces 
all  the  circumstances  of  our  grief,  and  all  the  re¬ 
sults. 

We  should  consider  also,  that  God  is  righteous, 
and  merciful,  and  paternal  in  all  the  afflictions,  with 
which  we  are  visited. 

That  he  is  righteous  appears  from  the  fact,  that  he 
treats  us  better  than  we  deserve.  However  numerous 
and  severe  may  be  our  trials,  however  great  the  pres¬ 
sure  of  our  sorrows,  they  never  in  the  present  life 
surpass  our  ill  deserts.  Consider  the  innumerable 
mercies  bestowed  on  us,  for  which  we  have  never 
offered  one  grateful  emotion  to  our  divine  benefactor; 
— consider  how  little  we  have  thought  of  him,  who 
has  preserved  us  every  moment  of  our  existence;  how 
much  we  have  sinned  against  him,  who  has  always 
done  us  good;  how  often  we  have  slighted  him,  who 
died  for  our  salvation;  and  then  contrast  our  afflictions 
with  our  ill  desert,  and  say, — is  not  God  righteous  in 
all  the  afflictions  he  sends  upon  us? 

Let  it  also  be  remembered,  that  Jehovah  is  not 
only  righteous,  but  merciful  in  our  afflictions.  He 
not  only  does  not  afflict  us  beyond  our  deserts,  but 
his  severest  chastisements  are  far  less  than  our  sins. 
Although  we  are  prone  to  overlook  our  mercies  in  the 
midst  of  our  sorrows,  yet  a  little  reflection  would  con¬ 
vince  us,  that  the  former  vastly  exceed  the  latter. 
Does  God  remove  from  us  one  or  more  of  our  dearest 
earthly  comforts?  How  many  does  he  still  continue 
in  our  possession!  Does  he  take  from  us  blessings 
we  have  long  enjoyed?  How  many  new  blessings 
does  he  confer!  It  is  because  the  catalogue  of  our 
afflictions  is  enumerated  so  often,  and  multiplied  so 


8 


indefinitely  by  our  idolizing  and  repining  hearts,  and  the 
catalogue  of  our  blessings  is  never  fully  made  out,  and 
so  seldom  recounted  with  gratitude,  that  we  do  not 
often  even  in  the  depths  of  calamity  exclaim,  “O 
Lord,  how  great  are  thy  mercies,  and  how  great 
is  the  sum  of  them?” 

God  is  also  paternal  in  the  afflictions  with  which  he 
visits  his  people.  “Whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chas- 
teneth,  and  scourgeth  every  son,  whom  he  receiveth. 
If  ye  endure  chastening,  God  dealeth  with  you  as 
with  sons;  for  what  son  is  he  whom  the  father  chas- 
teneth  not.”  All  the  afflictions  of  the  righteous  ac¬ 
cording  to  a  divine  promise  work  together  for  their 
good,  and  thus  become  mercies  in  disguise.  “Our 
light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment,  worketh 
for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory.”  The  piety  of  men  often  shines  the  brightest 
in  adversity.  ‘How  could  we  have  known  so  much 
of  the  fidelity  of  Abraham,  the  meekness  of  Moses, 
the  patience  of  Job,  the  ardor  of  David,  the  tender¬ 
ness  of  Jeremiah,  the  boldness  of  Daniel,  and  the 
self-denial  of  Paul,  had  they  not  been  cast  into  the 
furnace  of  affliction!’ 

It  is  also  by  afflictions,  that  God  trains  up  the 
righteous  for  glory.  “It  is  through  much  tribulation, 
we  must  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven.”  It  is  by 
trials,  that  the  pious  are  often  humbled,  and  subdued, 
and  weaned  from  earth,  and  led  to  live  for  heaven. 
Only  let  us  cordially  believe,  that  all  our  afflictions 
are  ordered  by  the  wise  and  benevolent  providence  of 
God,  and  under  them  all  we  may  be  silent  and  sub¬ 
missive. 


9 


This  subject,  as  explained,  presents  the  only  proper 
ground  of  cordial  submission.  It  is  the  universality 
and  benevolence  of  the  divine  government.  Search 
through  second  causes; — look  over  the  universe,  and 
you  cam aft  find  no  other  ground  of  cordial  resignation 
in  all  the  circumstances  of  human  life,  or  in  any  of 
them. — -Do  you  imagine  that  the  hope,  that  all  afflic¬ 
tions  will  promote  your  personal  happiness,  is  genuine 
submission?  But  this  is  no  subordination  to  the  divine 
will;  it  is  simply  complacency  in  your  own  personal  in¬ 
terest  and  happiness.  It  is  also  to  be  considered,  that 
there  are  many  adverse  events,  with  respect  to  which 
you  must  be  unable  to  discern  how  they  can  be  favora¬ 
ble  to  your  interests;  and  you  have  no  promise  that 
they  will  work  together  for  your  good,  until  you  are 
cordially  submissive. 

Do  you  think  it  a  proper  ground  of  submission, 
that  you  cannot  avoid  the  afflictions  with  which  you 
are  visited?  This  has  not  a  single  feature  of  chris- 
tian  resignation.  It  is  only  the  non-resistance  of  the 
disobedient,  chastened  servant,  who  receives  the  lash, 
instead  of  slaying  his  master,  because  the  latter  he 
cannot  do. 

Does  the  sympathy  and  kindness  of  friends  in 
affliction  furnish  any  suitable  ground  of  submission? 
Such  sympathy  is  indeed  a  great  alleviation  of  grief; 
and  many  of  us  know  its  consoling  influences  from 
experience.  But  this  alone  cannot  sustain  the  droop¬ 
ing  spirits,  nor  reach  the  deep  sorrows  of  the  heart, 
nor  bear  up  the  desponding  soul,  when  sinking  amidst 
the  waves  of  trouble. — No,  Christian  friends,  there  is 
no  other  ground  of  true  submission,  when  the  heart  is 

bleeding  at  every  pore  with  the  wounds  which  a  right- 

2 


10 


eous  Providence  hath  inflicted,  than  that  God  has  done 
it.  It  is  the  chastisement  of  our  heavenly  Father,  and 
he  knows  what  is  best; — he  cannot  err; — he  does  not 
willingly  afflict  or  grieve  the  children  of  men. 

This  is  the  ground  of  our  submission,  and  falfre  source 
of  our  consolation,  in  view  of  the  painful  bereavement 
which  has  hung  this  pulpit  in  mourning,  and  filled 
our  hearts  with  grief.  The  event  which  has  convened 
us  this  day,  and  made  this  sanctuary  a  Bochim,  was 
most  sudden  and  unexpected,  most  mysterious  and 
overwhelming.  An  affectionate  and  beloved  husband, 
a  devoted  and  faithful  minister,  a  wise  and  safe  coun¬ 
sellor,  an  active  and  efficient  officer  of  one  of  our 
most  important  benevolent  institutions,  a  great  and 
a  good  man,  whose  praise  was  in  all  the  churches, — - 
has  fallen  in  our  Israel.  In  the  midst  of  his  days  and 
usefulness  he  is  cut  down,  and  sleeps  in  death.  In 
the  bursting  forth  of  our  emotions,  which  we  have  no 
language  to  express,  we  cannot  but  lift  up  our  eyes 
to  heaven,  and  exclaim,  “Help,  Lord,  for  the  godly 
man  ceaseth;  for  the  faithful  fail  from  among  the 
children  of  men,” 

I  am  aware,  that  I  shall  be  expected  on  the 
present  occasion,  summarily  to  delineate  the  character 
of  the  deceased; — a  task  to  which  I  feel  utterly  inade¬ 
quate,  not  because  I  did  not  know  him  well,  but  be¬ 
cause  his  many  excellencies  could  much  better  be  seen, 
than  described;  and  because  many  pleasing  traits  of 
his  character  developed  themselves  to  the  observer, 
and  especially  the  intimate  friend,  which  cannot  be 
delineated. 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  Blydenburg  Wisner  was 
born  September  29th,  1794,  in  Goshen,  Orange 


11 


county,  New  York;  where  his  father  resided  until 
this  his  eldest  son  was  three  years  old,  when  he  re¬ 
moved  to  Geneva,  Ontario  County.  Both  his  parents 
were  professors  of  religion.  His  father,  Polydore 
B.  Wisner,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that  now 
populous  and  flourishing  village;  and  one  of  the  found¬ 
ers  of  the  Presbyterian  church  there,  now  large  and 
efficient.  Of  this  church  he  was  an  active  and  useful 
member  to  the  close  of  his  life.  He  was  a  lawyer, 
and  for  several  years  previous  to  his  decease,  District 
Attorney  for  the  western  part  of  New  York.  He 
died  at  the  age  of  44  years,  when  his  son,  whose  re¬ 
mains  are  now  before  us,  was  only  20  years  old. 
He  was  returning  from  a  tour  of  official  duty,  and 
20  miles  distant  from  his  home,  was  seized  with  a 
violent  disease,  which  speedily  proved  fatal. 

Parental  religious  instructions  made  salutary  im¬ 
pressions  on  the  mind  of  this  son  in  early  life,  which 
were  never  wholly  effaced.  His  youthful  days  were 
spent  in  his  father’s  family;  and  when  not  engaged  in 
his  studies,  he  was  active  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
took  much  delight  in  this  kind  of  laborious  toil.  He 
used  in  after  life  to  ascribe  his  early  physical  vigor 
and  his  power  to  make  continued  mental  effort,  to  the 
industry,  activity,  and  labor  of  his  youth;  and  he  has 
often  mentioned  this  happy  experiment  to  those  who 
were  about  commencing,  or  were  in  the  incipient 
stages  of  a  liberal  education.  He  pursued  his  studies 
preparatory  to  a  collegiate  course  chiefly  under  the 
tuition  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Axtell,  then  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Geneva.  He  entered  the  sophomore  class 
of  Union  College,  in  Schenectady,  in  September  1810, 
at  the  age  of  16.  He  was  diligent  and  successful  in 


12 


his  studies,  amiable  and  moral  in  his  deportment,  and 
attentive  to  all  the  laws  of  the  institution.  While  a 
member  of  college,  he  was  never  reproved  for  a  fault, 
nor  marked  for  absence  from  any  duty  or  exercise. 
— It  was  at  this  period  he  strengthened  and  confirmed 
his  habits  of  order,  diligence,  punctuality,  and  labo- 
riousness,  which  never  forsook  him  in  after  life.  And 
it  was  in  this  way  he  laid  the  foundation  for  those 
useful  attainments,  and  that  promptness  to  do  what 
should  be  done  at  the  present  time,  which  were  so 
prominent  in  his  subsequent  history.  He  sustained 
a  high  standing  in  college,  and  exerted  an  extensive 
influence;  and  had  the  second  part  at  his  graduation, 
which  was  in  1813. 

The  next  year  he  spent  as  preceptor  of  the  acad¬ 
emy  at  Johnstown,  which  was  then  a  flourishing 
institution.  The  following  year  he  was  occupied  in 
settling  his  father’s  estate,  and  supplied  in  many 
respects  his  father’s  place  in  the  care  of  the  family. 
He  had  a  natural  love  of  manual  labor  quite  uncom¬ 
mon,  which  induced  him  again  to  resume  agricultural 
pursuits;  and  often  have  I  heard  him  speak  of  this 
year  of  chosen  toil,  as  one  of  pleasure  and  advantage 
to  himself.  He  valued  much,  as  he  had  reason  to  do, 
that  vigor  to  toil,  and  that  cheerful  readiness  to  engage 
in  any  difficult  enterprise,  which  were  the  result  of 
his  early  training  and  habits. 

While  at  Geneva  he  was  appointed  to  the  office  of 
tutor  in  his  Alma  Mater,  where  he  performed  the  duties 
of  an  instructor  from  the  autumn  of  1815  to  the 
close  of  the  collegiate  year  of  1818. — As  a  tutor  he 
was  diligent  and  successful,  and  constant  and  thorough 
in  his  instructions.  He  has  often  told  me  that  he 


13 


found  much  advantage  in  what  the  worthy  president 
told  him  was  a  law  for  the  officers  of  that  institution, 
“never  to  be  angry  but  by  rule.” 

After  he  became  a  member  of  Union  College,  his 
religious  impressions  were  revived  and  deepened,  and 
without  any  thing  very  marked  in  his  religious  exer¬ 
cises,  he  indulged  a  hope  of  cordial  reconciliation  to 
his  Maker.  In  the  early  part  of  1816,  while  he  was 
tutor  in  College,  he  joined  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Schenectady,  and  commenced  the  study  of  Theology 
under  the  tuition  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Yates,  then  a  profes¬ 
sor  in  the  College.  While  an  officer  of  college,  our 
lamented  friend  was  active  in  promoting  the  cause  of 
his  Redeemer,  and  in  connection  with  a  fellow  tutor, 
collected  a  small  congregation  of  colored  people, 
which  they  addressed  every  Saturday  evening;  and 
on  Sabbath  morning  they  met  them  for  the  purpose 
of  imparting  sabbath  school  instruction. 

He  left  his  office  in  college,  and  became  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  New 
Jersey,  in  November  1818.  While  a  student  there  he 
held  frequent  meetings  for  the  instruction  and  benefit 
of  the  destitute  in  the  neighboring  towns.  He  was 
diligent  and  laborious  almost  to  a  proverb.  During 
his  two  years  residence  in  that  seminary  he  copied, 
for  his  own  use,  Dr.  Livingston’s  system  of  divinity, 
Dr.  Alexander’s  lectures  on  polemic  and  didactic 
theology  and  pastoral  duty,  and  Dr.  Miller’s  lectures 
on  ecclesiastical  history.  He  was  also  an  active 
superintendent  of  a  sabbath  school  in  Princeton,  and 
in  all  his  subsequent  visits  to  that  place  has  been  af¬ 
fectionately  greeted  by  his  former  sabbath  pupils.  In 
June  1820  he  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and 


14 


daring  that  summer  preached  as  a  candidate  to  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey, 
and  received  a  unanimous  invitation  to  become  their 
pastor.  In  the  same  summer,  while  yet  a  member 
of  the  theological  institution,  he  received  a  request 
to  preach  as  a  candidate  to  the  Old  South  Church  and 
Society  in  Boston.  With  this  request  he  complied, 
when  he  left  the  seminary  in  September  1820;  and  re¬ 
ceived  an  invitation  to  become  their  pastor  in  Novem¬ 
ber  of  the  same  year.  He  was  soon  after  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  H.  Johnson  of  Johnstown,  in  the  state  of 
New  York. 

He  was  introduced  into  the  pastoral  office  in  this 
sanctuary,  February  21,  1821.  He  sustained  the  pas¬ 
toral  care  of  this  ancient  and  numerous  church  about 
twelve  years; — and  in  consequence  of  his  being  ap¬ 
pointed  to  the  important  office,  which  he  held  at  his  de¬ 
cease,  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request  in  November, 
1832.  He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
from  Union  College,  in  the  year  1828.  Soon  after  his 
settlement  here  he  was  called  to  take  an  active  and  effi¬ 
cient  part  in  the  management  of  our  most  important 
benevolent  institutions; — and  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  American  Education  Socie¬ 
ty,  and  of  the  Prudential  Committee  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  and 
also  one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Andover,  up  to  the  close  of  life. 

While  in  the  ministry  here  he  had  several  invita¬ 
tions  to  occupy  other  important  spheres  of  usefulness. 
He  was  elected  professor  of  ecclesiastical  history 
and  pastoral  care  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Andover,  which,  after  much  consultation  and  prayer, 
he  thought  it  his  duty  to  decline.  He  loved  the  min- 


15 

istry; — he  loved  his  people;— he  loved  his  associates 
and  his  diversified  labors  in  this  part  of  his  Lord’s 
vineyard; — and  most  of  all,  he  loved  to  do  his  Master’s 
will,  which  he  thought  required  him  to  retain  his  pas¬ 
toral  office. 

His  health  began  to  decline  a  year  previous  to  his  dis¬ 
mission,  and  in  February  1832  he  repaired  to  a  south¬ 
ern  climate  for  the  recovery  of  his  health,  and  return¬ 
ed  to  this  city  the  last  of  June; — but  not  sufficiently 
restored  to  enable  him  to  resume  his  pastoral  duties. 
He  spent  the  summer  in  Connecticut,  and  his  health 
continued  gradually  to  improve.  At  the  annual  meet¬ 
ing  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
Foreign  Missions  in  the  City  of  New  York,  October, 
1332,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  three  secretaries,  to 
whom  the  correspondence  of  the  Board  was  at  that 
time  assigned.  He  returned  to  this  city  in  October, 
still  in  feeble  health,  and  preached  one  sermon  to  his 
beloved  people. 

The  question  whether  he  should  leave  the  pastoral 
office,  and  a  flock  over  which  he  had  watched  twelve 
years  with  affectionate  solicitude,  was  to  him  of  deep 
and  tender  interest.  He  made  it  a  question  of  duty, 
a  subject  of  much  prayer,  and  of  much  serious  consul¬ 
tation.  His  friends  at  home  and  abroad  were  fully 
aware  that  his  habits  of  business,  his  extensive  ac¬ 
quaintance  with  the  different  portions  of  the  Christian 
church  in  the  United  States,  his  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  concerns  of  the  Board,  having  been  four  years 
a  member  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  his  sound 
discretion,  his  public  spirit,  and  the  general  confidence 
of  the  community  in  his  qualifications  for  such  an 
office,  clearly  indicated  his  duty;  and  they  unanimous¬ 
ly  advised  him  accordingly. 


16 


This  office  he  accepted  in  the  autumn  of  1832;  and 
to  its  duties  and  cares  and  labors  he  has  been  unceas¬ 
ingly  devoted  to  the  last  scene  of  his  life.  After  he 
entered  on  its  duties  his  health  gradually  improved; 
and  he  has  been  able  to  maintain  an  extensive  corres¬ 
pondence,  to  travel  over  different  parts  of  the  Union, 
and  visit  various  sections  of  the  church;  to  address 
numerous  ecclesiastical  judicatories  and  associations, 
and  many  congregations  and  smaller  meetings;  to  exert 
an  important  influence  in  organizing  the  southern  por¬ 
tion  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  more  united  and  ef¬ 
ficient  action  in  the  cause  of  missions;  and  to  transact 
a  variety  of  business,  highly  important,  and  requiring 
much  thought,  and  awaking  much  solicitude;  the 
extent  of  which  can  be  known  only  to  his  associates 
in  the  same  cause.  Under  all  this  pressure  of  labor  his 
health  seemed  returning  to  its  former  vigor,  and  he 
remarked,  only  a  week  before  his  death,  that  he  had 
not  enjoyed  such  firm  health  for  four  years.  He  has 
seemed  to  his  friends  for  the  two  last  years  of  his 
life  to  have  increased  his  humility,  to  have  obtained 
a  high  degree  of  self  government,  and  to  have  acquired 
a  pleasing  mellowness  of  character.  At  the  last 
monthly  concert  for  prayer,  the  deep  impression 
which  the  unexpected  death  of  Messrs.  Munson  and 
Lyman  had  made  on  his  mind,  and  the  earnest  and 
moving  manner  in  which  he  dwelt  on  the  affecting 
event,  were  the  subject  of  remark  by  many  who 
were  present. 

I  know  not  how  to  present  in  a  more  full  or  correct 
manner  the  scene  of  his  last  sickness  and  death,  than 
as  it  has  been  kindly  furnished  me  by  his  respected 
physician,  who  watched  in  the  chamber  where  the  good 


17 


man  met  his  fate  with  the  solicitude  and  affection  of 
a  brother. 

“Dr.  Wisner  was  taken  ill  on  Wednesday  of  last 
week,  Feb.  4th.  He  returned  from  the  Missionary 
Rooms,  supposing  he  had  taken  cold,  and  took  some 
slight  medicine  on  retiring  to  rest.  He  had  quite  a  sick 
night,  and  in  the  morning  when  called  to  visit  him, 
I  gave  him  some  active  medicine,  which  operated 
favorably,  but  without  the  relief,  which  was  hoped 
for.  On  Friday  morning  his  disease  exhibited  all  the 
distinctive  marks  of  scarlet  fever,  but  without  any 
threatening  symptoms.  Late,  however,  the  coming 
night,  there  came  on  suddenly  great  difficulty  of  breath¬ 
ing  for  a  short  time,  and  a  great  aggravation  of  all 
the  symptoms.  Saturday  morning  he  spoke  and  swal¬ 
lowed  with  extreme  difficulty,  and  every  symptom 
indicated  extreme  danger;  and  at  night  he  began  to  be 
delirious.  The  delirium  w7as  only,  at  first,  a  slight 
wandering  occasionally;  but  it  increased,  and  became 
constant,  until  all  the  faculties  of  his  mind  were 
obscured  by  it.  He  died  on  Monday  Feb.  9th  about 
half  past  two  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  in  the  41st 
year  of  his  age. 

From  this  statement  you  will  perceive  that  there 
was  no  opportunity  for  any  conversation,  except  what 
was  absolutely  necessary,  as  the  soreness  of  his  throat 
rendered  it  exceedingly  difficult  for  him  to  speak. 
Subsequently  came  on  a  delirium,  which  took  away 
all  power  of  connected  thought  or  expression. . 

Yet  there  was  something  in  the  character  of  that 
delirium,  or  rather  in  the  tone  of  conversation  and 
feeling  running  through  it,  which  exhibited  in  a  high 

"3 


18 


degree  the  state  of  his  mind.  As  I  attempt  to  recall 
the  circumstances  and  events  of  that  last  most  distres- 
ing  night,  I  find  it  impossible  to  retrace  them  in  such 
a  manner,  as  in  any  degree  to  convey  to  another  the 
impression  they  made  on  my  own  mind.  But  I  can 
scarcely  conceive  of  any  conversation,  that  could  have 
been  held  in  the  fulness  of  his  intellect  and  in  the 
near  prospect  of  death,  which  could  have  given  me  so 
exalted  an  estimate  of  the  depth  of  his  piety  and  the 
extent  of  his  Christian  attainments,  as  his  remarks 
during  those  hours  of  complete  delirium. 

You  know  how  rapidly,  during  an  excited  delirium, 
past  scenes  are  recounted,  past  labors  gone  over,  and 
past  conversation  and  discussion  renewed; — so  that 
the  transactions  of  months  and  years  are  acted  over 
again  in  a  few  hours.  Represent  to  yourself  our  dear 
friend  doing  this  in  regard  to  the  very  interesting  and 
perplexing  events  of  the  last  year,  and  particularly  of 
his  last  tour,  with  all  the  excitement  which  delirium 
adds  to  such  scenes; — and  without  any  of  that  protec¬ 
tion  which  prudence  and  self-respect  ordinarily  throw 
over  the  expression  of  our  inmost  thoughts; — and  then 
remember,  that  in  all  this  there  was  not  a  word  of 
condemnation  of  the  conduct  or  motives  of  any  one; — 
not  an  expression  of  uncharitableness,  nor  of  censure 
even,  in  regard  to  an  individual  of  all  the  actors  in 
these  multifarious  scenes; — and  you  will  have  some 
conception  of  what  I  w7ish  to  convey.  At  one  time 
he  was  engaged  in  discussion  with  those  who  opposed 
his  views  at  the  West;  at  another  moment  he  was  in 
Virginia;  at  another  he  w^as  arguing  in  Boston; — but 
in  all  there  was  the  same  exhibition  of  Christian  chari¬ 
ty  and  tenderness.  At  another  time  in  his  delirium 


19 


he  fancied  he  had  fallen  into  a  grievous  sin,  and  the 
sorrow  with  which  he  mourned  over  it,  and  the  ear¬ 
nestness  with  which  he  prayed  for  pardon  for  the  sake 
of  Jesus  Christ y — and  he  uttered  the  last  phrase,  for 
the  sake  of  thy  dear  Son ,  Jesus  Christ ,’  with  touching 
and  indescribable  tenderness,— cannot  be  delineated. 

At  some  intervals,  when  his  mind  was  a  little  re¬ 
lieved  of  his  delirium,  he  seemed  to  be  sensible  that 
it  had  been  wandering,  and  he  more  than  once  spoke 
to  me  of  the  apprehension  that  he  might  be  left  to  do 
or  say  something  wrong; — and  then  immediately 
comforted  himself  with  the  assurance,  that  the  grace 
of  God  would  preserve  him. 

On  Monday  morning  his  wife,  amid  his  incoherent 
remarks,  caught  the  words,  ‘short  prayer,’  though 
the  subject  had  not  been  proposed  to  him  during  the 
night  in  consequence  of  his  delirium;  she  immediately 
asked  him  if  he  would  unite  in  prayer,  and  he 
answered,  ‘yes.’  We  kneeled  around  the  bed,  and 
during  the  prayer  he  lay  perfectly  quiet. 

About  ten  o’clock  in  the  forenoon,  when  he  was 
thought  to  be  very  near  dying,  his  wife  lead  to  him 
aloud  a  passage  of  Scripture,  and  was  surprised  to  find 
that  he  became  perfectly  calm.  She  continued  read¬ 
ing,  and  he  continued  quiet.  If  she  discontinued  read¬ 
ing,  he  immediately  began  to  talk. 

The  closing  scene  was  most  affecting  and  impres¬ 
sive.  Though  the  features  of  the  dying  man  were  dis¬ 
torted  by  delirium,  and  he  surrounded  by  weeping 
friends,  his  agitated  voice  was  hushed  by  the  sound  of 
the  word  of  God;  and  broke  forth  at  every  interval  as 
soon  as  that  sound  ceased  for  a  moment;  and  was  hush¬ 
ed  again,  when  that  was  resumed.  This  effect  contin- 


20 


ued  for  three  hours  after  every  other  mark  of  conscious¬ 
ness  had  disappeared.  What  was  it  that  rendered 
the  word  of  God  such  a  talisman  to  calm  the  per¬ 
turbed  mind?  It  was  not  the  tones  of  voice  of  a 
beloved  companion  who  read;  for  the  same  voice  had 
all  the  previous  night  been  employed  in  the  most  as¬ 
siduous  and  soothing  efforts  for  that  purpose  in  vain. 
The  same  effect  was  also  produced,  when  the  word 
of  God  was  read  to  him  by  another.  I  could  not  see 
that  it  could  be  any  thing  but  his  deep  interest  in  the 
word  of  God;  thus  showing  a  mind  intelligent  to 
divine  things,  while  closed  to  every  other  topic. 

He  would  sometimes  say,  while  his  wife  was  thus 
reading  to  him  the  precious  Bible ,  ‘how  appropriate 
that  is;  my  dear,  that  is  for  you;  remember  that.’ 
On  the  morning  of  his  decease  he  was  heard  to  offer 
a  prayer;  and  though  often  incoherent  in  language, 
yet  it  was  full  of  pertinent  and  fervent  supplications, 
and  closed  with  an  intercession  for  the  many  mil¬ 
lions?  The  sentence  he  was  not  able  to  finish  with¬ 
out  wandering,  but  it  is  quite  obvious  what  was  on 
his  mind.  It  may  also  be  stated,  that  when  one  and 
another  of  his  Christian  friends  came  into  his  cham¬ 
ber,  in  the  midst  of  his  wanderings  he  would  at  lucid 
moments  say  to  them,  ‘Consecrate  all  to  Christ. 
Make  an  entire  consecration  to  Christ!’  ” 

When  we  view  this  servant  of  Jesus  Christ  con¬ 
tinually  expressing  his  emotions  in  the  most  unexcep¬ 
tionable  manner,  in  the  midst  of  an  excited  delirium, 
how  pertinent  the  reflection  of  his  physician;  “How 
few  would  bear  to  have  the  veil  thus  raised  from  all 
their  private  thoughts  and  feelings  and  motives?  How 
few  would  be  willing  to  stand  thus  exhibited  to  sur- 


21 


rounding  friends  in  their  habitual  state  of  inmost 
character,  in  some  degree  as  they  will  stand  at  last, 
when  the  secrets  of  all  hearts  shall  be  revealed!  What 
a  motive  for  the  habitual  government  of  our  thoughts 
and  feelings,  as  well  as  our  words  and  actions,  during 
all  the  active  scenes  of  life!” 

This  beloved  servant  of  Jesus  Christ  lived  the  life 
of  the  righteous,  and  so  his  last  end  was  like  his! 
He  possessed  many  interesting  traits  of  character,  and 
occupied  an  important  sphere  in  the  Christian  com¬ 
munity. 

Dr.  Wisner  had  a  clear  and  vigorous  mind.  The 
objects  of  mental  perception  were  seen  by  him  with 
great  distinctness,  and  grasped  with  great  energy. 
His  views  were  seldom  confused,  or  his  conceptions 
feeble  on  any  subject,  to  which  he  directed  his  atten¬ 
tion.  He  had  an  uncommon  talent  for  examining  and 
discussing  subjects  without  premeditation.  In  pub¬ 
lic  meetings,  and  amidst  scenes  of  public  debate,  he 
seemed  almost  instinctively  to  comprehend  the  subject 
under  discussion  in  its  various  bearings,  to  arrange 
his  thoughts  in  a  lucid  and  convincing  manner,  and  to 
present  results  at  once  conclusive  and  satisfactory. 
He  exhibited  on  such  occasions,  in  a  remarkable  de¬ 
gree,  a  logical  and  well  disciplined  mind.  His  illus¬ 
trations,  drawn  from  his  own  observation  of  men  and 
things,  were  numerous,  pertinent,  and  forcible.  In 
this  way  he  satisfied  others  that  his  mind  was  well 
stored  with  first  principles  and  connected  opinions, 
and  that  those  opinions  were  well  founded. 

Dr.  Wisner  was  also  distinguished  for  his  unwearied 
diligence.  His  mind  was  always  active,  and  his  time 
always  employed.  He  never  shrunk  from  any  under- 


22 


taking  on  account  of  the  labor  it  would  require,  even 
if  it  were  uninteresting  or  disagreeable  labor.  This 
habit  of  diligence  was  formed  and  thoroughly  fixed 
in  early  life;  and  it  was  a  habit  which  rendered  labor 
pleasant,  and  that  which  would  have  been  impossible 
to  others,  to  him  practicable,  if  not  easy.  Here  was 
the  secret  of  his  success  in  difficult  enterprises, 
and  the  ground  of  public  confidence,  that  he  would 
never  give  over  any  important  object,  because  much 
toil  and  perseverance  were  indispensable  to  its  attain¬ 
ment. 

He  was  also  remarkable  for  his  promptness  and 
punctuality  in  business.  His  habits  of  punctuality 
were  constant  and  inflexible.  He  was  almost  never 
behind  the  time;  he  never  kept  others  waiting  for  his 
presence;  and  was  never  so  assuming  and  indecorous 
as  to  suppose,  if  he  delayed  one  or  ten  persons,  or  an 
assembly  in  business,  on  account  of  his  tardiness,  or 
his  careless  negligence,  it  was  no  matter.  It  was  a 
settled  principle  with  him,  to  have  his  work  done  in 
the  appropriate  time,  and  to  leave  nothing  until  to¬ 
morrow,  which  should  be  completed  to-day.  In  all 
his  relations  and  in  all  the  business  of  life  he  aimed 
not  only  to  do  what  devolved  upon  him,  but  do  it  in 
due  season;  and  never  to  disappoint  private  or  public 
expectation;  never  to  impair  private  or  public  confi¬ 
dence  reposed  in  him.  And  such  was  his  well  known 
character  in  this  respect,  that  every  one  was  satisfied 
that  whatever  was  committed  to  him  would  be  done 
at  the  time;  and  that  the  miserable  excuse  of  forget¬ 
fulness,  or  negligence,  or  delay,  would  not  come  from 
his  lips. 

He  was  also  distinguished  for  his  careful  ob¬ 
servation  of  human  character  and  conduct.  He 


23 


seemed  always  to  be  observing,  and  always  learning 
men  and  things.  Hence  few  men  could  reason  and 
make  calculations  from  a  knowledge  of  mankind  more 
correctly,  in  regard  to  what  might  be  expected,  and 
how  any  proposed  plan  or  measure  would  succeed, 
than  Dr.  Wisner.  His  conclusions  in  this  respect 
seemed  sometimes  to  he  almost  prophetic.  And  here 
was  one  source  of  his  uncommon  practical  wisdom. 

Few  men  were  consulted  so  much,  or  with  so  much 
advantage,  as  he.  And  his  advice  was  not  valued 
merely  on  a  few  topics,  to  which  he  had  given  the 
most  attention,  but  he  was  consulted  on  almost  all 
subjects;  and  his  counsels  were  generally  followed. 
He  was  educated  in  the  government  and  polity  of  the 
Presbyterian  church;  but  when  he  was  located  in  this 
city,  he  made  himself  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the 
platform  of  the  New  England  churches,  and  with  the 
ecclesiastical  polity  and  usages  of  Congregationalism. 
While  he  was  a  pastor,  he  was  very  frequently  invited 
to  councils  of  ecclesiastical  difficulty;  and  his  opinions 
bore  great  sway  in  ecclesiastical  proceedings.  As  an 
ecclesiastical  jurist  he  has  been  second  to  no  one, 
since  the  removal  of  the  lamented  Dr.  Worcester. 

As  a  man  of  sound  practical  wisdom,  he  secured 
almost  unlimited  confidence;  and  indeed  it  is  doubtful 
whether  any  man  in  this  country  had  the  more  entire 
confidence  of  the  whole  Christian  community,  than 
Dr.  Wisner.  It  was  well  known,  that  he  was  enter¬ 
prising  but  not  indiscreet;  energetic  but  not  rash; 
persevering  but  not  obstinate;  prompt  but  not  hasty; 
decided  but  not  dogmatical.  Hence  whatever  was 
committed  to  him,  it  was  expected  would  be  well 
done,  and  done  timely,  and  done  discreetly;  and  that 


24 


his  plans  would  be  safe,  and  his  measures  concilia¬ 
tory. 

Dr.  Wisner  exercised  great  candor  and  fairness  in 
forming  his  opinions  and  in  imparting  advice.  He 
could  converse  with  almost  any  one,  on  almost  any 
subject,  without  giving  offence,  even  though  he  deemed 
it  his  duty  to  express  decided  disapprobation,  or  ad¬ 
minister  reproof.  His  candor  and  fairness,  and  the 
good  reasons  advanced  for  his  opinions  and  reproof 
would  be  too  obvious  and  just,  and  his  kind  feelings 
and  good  intentions  too  manifest,  to  allow  the  rising 
up  of  anger  or  dislike. 

He  was  also  a  man  of  great  firmness  of  judgment 
and  purpose.  He  did  not  makeup  his  mind  nor  form 
his  purpose  without  careful  examination,  and  without 
a  conviction  of  duty;  and  when  his  judgment  or  his 
purpose  was  thus  formed,  he  wTas  not  shaken  in  his 
opinion  or  wavering  in  his  purpose,  without  the  pre¬ 
sentation  of  new  and  strong  reasons.  He  took  great 
care  to  resolve  right,  and  then  he  went  firmly  and 
with  all  the  energies  of  his  soul  to  execute  his 
resolve. 

He  also  possessed  a  public  spirit  in  an  uncommon 
degree.  He  took  an  interest  in  every  thing,  which 
concerned  the  welfare  of  the  community.  He  was 
always  ready  to  counsel  or  to  toil  for  the  public  good. 
He  felt  a  responsibility  for  every  thing  that  affected 
the  public  weal  to  the  extent  of  his  influence.  He 
regarded  himself  as  belonging  to  the  public,  as  living 
to  promote  the  public  good,  and  render  as  extensively 
as  possible  this  fallen  world  better  and  happier  for  his 
having  lived  in  it.  And  it  was  his  deep  interest  in  all 
important  public  concerns,  which  probably  did  more  to 


26 


Wear  out  his  energies,  and  exhaust  his  spirits,  and 
hurry  him  to  the  grave,  than  all  the  labors  of  any 
one  particular  calling.  His  anxiety  and  care  for 
objects  and  interests  without  his  appropriate  sphere, 
were  like  those  of  other  men  respecting  their  peculiar 
calling  and  business. 

He  had  also  great  completeness  of  character.  His 
was  a  well  balanced  mind;  and  its  various  faculties 
not  only  well  proportioned,  but  cultivated  and  im¬ 
proved  in  due  proportion.  He  was  not  essentially 

♦ 

deficient  in  any  thing.  As  has  been  justly  said  of  the 
venerated  and  lamented  Worcester,  and  Evarts,  and 
Cornelius,  he  had  a  completeness  and  symmetry  of 
character,  and  an  amount  of  solid  and  valuable  attain¬ 
ments,  which  are  rare  and  uncommon.  Where  shall 
we  look  for  four  such  bright  and  glowing  luminaries 
in  the  church  of  God? 

It  may  justly  be  added,  that  our  beloved,  lamented 
friend  had  few  blemishes.  That  he  was  faultless  or 
perfect,  we  will  not  admit;  for  he  was  a  man.  But 
what  is  there  in  the  traits  of  character  he  exhibited, 
or  the  words  he  uttered,  or  the  actions  he  performed, 
which  his  friends  will  have  much  occasion  to  regret? 
What  has  he  said  or  done,  which  has  injured,  or  will 
injure  the  community? 

“He  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
and  of  faith,”  and  by  his  instrumentality  much  people 
have  been  added  to  the  Lord.  His  increase  in  piety 
from  the  time  he  made  a  Christian  profession  seemed 
to  be  gradual,  and  his  Christian  attainments  more  uni- 
formerly  progressive,  than  those  of  most  Christians. 
His  religion  was  rational,  consistent,  fervent,  prac¬ 
tical.  It  was  exhibited  in  the  habitual  discharge  of 

4 


26 


all  his  relative,  social,  and  public  duties;  in  a  consci¬ 
entious  regard  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  in  earnest 
desires  and  unwearied  efforts  for  the  good  of  men.  It 
embraced  that  deep  sense  of  personal  unworthiness, 
and  that  affectionate,  unshaken  reliance  on  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  which  were  so  often  expressed  in  his 
devotions,  and  would,  we  doubt  not,  have  been  man¬ 
ifested  more  distinctly  on  his  dying  bed,  had  not  the 
aberrations  of  his  mind  prevented. 

As  a  preacher  of  divine  truth,  he  was  instructive, 
clear,  energetic,  and  impressive.  He  never  aimed,  in 
the  solemn  business  of  proclaiming  the  everlasting 
gospel,  merely  to  amuse  the  fancy  or  gratify  a  fas¬ 
tidious  taste;  but  to  illumine  the  mind,  and  arouse  the 
conscience,  and  affect  the  heart,  and  save  the  soul. 

As  a  pastor  he  was  devoted  and  laborious;  ever 
ready  to  counsel  the  unwary,  to  console  the  afflicted, 
to  guide  the  inquiring,  to  encourage  and  edify  those 
who  had  set  their  faces  towards  heaven.  He  took  a 
deep  interest  in  the  public  schools  in  this  city,  and  in 
the  education  of  the  young;  and  though  he  had  no  chil¬ 
dren  of  his  own,  he  usually  had  one  or  more  relatives 
in  his  family,  whom  he  was  sustaining  in  a  course  of 
education.  He  left  an  adopted  son,  to  whom  he  had 
given  his  name,  and  towards  whom  he  felt  the  re¬ 
sponsibility  of  a  parent. 

As  a  friend  he  was  kind,  frank,  and  affectionate. 
His  social  powers  were  peculiarly  desirable;  and  in 
his  social  intercourse  his  excellencies  were  surpassed 
by  few.  He  was  interesting  as  a  companion,  ready 
in  conversation,  easy,  cheerful,  wrell  informed;  able 
to  adapt  himself  to  all  kinds  of  company;  always 
manly  and  discreet,  and  though  sometimes  humorous, 


27 


not  addicted  to  levity.  Few  had  more  personal  friends, 
than  Dr.  Wisner. 

I  may  be  permitted  to  say,  that  after  several  years 
of  the  most  intimate  acquaintance  and  intercourse, 
and  after  having  journeyed  with  him  often,  after  hav¬ 
ing  been  associated  with  him  in  various  business  of 
the  church,  and  having  been  engaged  with  him  in  the 
adjustment  of  ecclesiastical  difficulties  the  most  per¬ 
plexing,  I  have  not  seen  a  more  desirable  and  rare 
assemblage  of  good  qualities,  than  were  combined  in 
his  character. 

But  no  one  can  know  so  well  his  peculiar  endear¬ 
ments  as  a  friend,  and  no  one  can  so  deeply  mourn 
his  loss,  as  his  bereaved  and  lonely  widow.  To  her 
this  bereavement  is  unexpected,  sudden,  and  almost 
overwhelming.  He  has  been  the  friend  of  her  youth, 
the  companion  of  her  days,  and  deservedly  the  dearest 
object  of  her  earthly  affections.  And  now,  after  five 
days  illness,  he  has  gone  to  his  final  home,  and  left 
her  to  know  all  the  loneliness,  and  solitude,  and  grief 
of  a  widow’s  heart.  His  many  prayers,  we  doubt 
not,  will  be  answered  in  the  bestowment  of  many 
blessings  on  her.  Let  the  sentiment  of  the  text,  of 
3'our  own  selection,  respected  Madam,  be  the  senti¬ 
ment  of  your  heart  in  your  deep  affliction;  “I  was 
dumb,  I  opened  not  my  mouth,  because  thou  didst,  it.” 
The  separation  will  be  short;  and  how  joyous  to  meet 
in  that  world,  where  there  will  be  no  separation,  no 
tears,  no  sorrow!  We  tender  you  the  sincere  condo¬ 
lence  of  many  friends;  and  especially  would  we 
implore  for  you  that  divine  consolation,  which  alone 
can  sustain  your  sinking  spirits,  and  soothe  your 
bleeding  heart,  and  dry  up  your  tears,  and  assuage 
your  grief. 


28 


With  the  family  and  relatives  of  our  deceased 
friend  we  also  sympathise;  and  would  invite  them  to 
call  to  mind  his  instructions,  to  imitate  his  example, 
and  prepare  to  follow  him  to  his  residence  in  glory. 

To  the  church  and  society  who  usually  worship  in 
this  sanctuary  this  is  an  affecting  and  monitory  scene. 
There  lie  the  remains  of  your  former  pastor  and 
minister!  You  well  remember  with  what  clearness 
and  plainness  he  preached  to  you  the  glorious  gospel 
of  the  blessed  God;  with  what  solicitude  he  sought 
your  salvation;  with  what  fidelity  he  warned  you; 
with  what  affectionate  tenderness  he  entreated  you; 
with  what  earnestness  he  besought  you  in  Christ’s 
stead  to  become  reconciled  to  God!  You  well  remem¬ 
ber  with  what  fervor  and  importunity  he  led  your 
devotions;  and  how*  often  it  has  been  most  obviously 
at  this  altar  “his  heart’s  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for 
you,  that  you  might  be  saved.”  You  well  remember 
how  he  instructed  the  children  and  youth  of  his  be¬ 
loved  charge,  and  how  deeply  solicitous  he  was,  that 
they  should  become  the  lambs  of  the  flock,  and  early 
be  gathered  into  the  fold  of  Christ.  You  well  remem¬ 
ber  how  he  approved  himself  in  all  things  a  faith¬ 
ful  minister;  “a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed.” 

But  his  work  is  done;  his  labors  are  ended;  his 
eyes  are  closed  in  death,  to  weep  no  more  for  you; 
his  lips  are  sealed  in  solemn  silence,  to  instruct,  and 
warn  and  comfort  you  no  more!  He  has  gone  to  give 
an  account  of  his  ministry  among  you;  and  remember 
you  must  soon  meet  him  at  the  bar  of  your  Judge,  to 
give  an  account  how  ye  have  improved  his  ministry! 
And  now,  as  ye  are  about  to  commit  his  remains  to 


29 


the  tomb,  inquire  seriously  whether  ye  have  cordially 
yielded  to  the  sanctifying  influence  of  the  gospel  he 
preached,  and  whether  ye  are  preparing  to  enter  with 
him  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord!  Oh  constrain  him  not 
to  testify  another  day,  that  he  preached  the  gospel  to 
any  one  of  you  in  vain!  As  ye  see  his  face  this  day 
for  the  last  time,  prepare  to  meet  him  in  Christ’s 
likeness  in  heaven! 

To  his  immediate  associates  in  the  cause  of  mis¬ 
sions  this  is  a  painful  and  mysterious  event.  To  us 
engaged  with  him  in  weekly,  and  even  more  frequent 
consultations,  he  was  most  tenderly  endeared.  We 
have  witnessed  the  peculiar  qualifications  he  possessed 
for  the  office  he  held,  the  enlarged  views  he  took  of 
the  missionary  enterprise,  the  zeal  with  which  he 
devoted  himself  to  promote  the  world’s  salvation,  the 
wfisdom  of  his  counsels,  the  safety  of  his  plans,  and 
the  constancy  and  energy  of  his  toils.  We  ask  the 
prayers  of  the  church,  that  his  mantle  may  fall  on  us, 
and  that  the  Lord  of  missions  would  supply  his  place 
with  another  of  like  spirit  and  like  qualifications. 

The  public  agents  of  the  American  Board  of  For¬ 
eign  Missions  and  the  Board  itself  cannot  but  be 
deeply  affected  with  this  bereavement.  It  is  one  of 
those  mysterious  dispensations  of  providence,  which 
impress  on  our  minds  the  truth,  that  “God’s  ways 
are  not  as  our  ways,  nor  his  thoughts  as  our  thoughts. 
His  path  is  in  the  sea,  and  his  footsteps  in  the  great 
waters;  and  his  judgments  are  unsearchable,  and  his 
ways  past  finding  out.”  But  let  not  the  friends  of 
missions  despond;  the  Lord  of  missions  lives,  and  the 
cause  of  missions  he  will  advance.  It  is  indeed 
mysterious,  that  three  secretaries  of  the  American 


30 


Board  of  Foreign  Missions  should  be  removed  by 
death  in  less  than  four  years;  while  the  latter  two 
had  scarcely  reached  the  full  meridian  of  life.  And 
there  are  some  striking  coincidences  in  the  circum¬ 
stances  of  the  decease  of  these  two  beloved  ministers 
of  Jesus  Christ.  Three  years  ago  yesterday  died 
the  lamented  Cornelius.  His  sickness,  like  that  of 
Dr.  Wisner,  was  only  of  few'  days  continuance.  Each 
of  them  had  just  addressed  the  churches  in  this  city  on 
the  subject  of  foreign  missions;  each  of  them  attend¬ 
ed  the  monthly  concert  in  February;  and  each  of 
them  in  a  few  short  days  was  released  from  their 
arduous  labors  on  earth,  to  share  the  rich  rewards  of 
heaven.  Mysterious  as  are  these  events,  let  us  be 
silent,  and  in  coincidence  with  the  sentiment  of  the 
text,  not  open  our  mouths,  because  God  has  done  it. 

To  the  three  hundred  and  twelve  missionaries  and 
assistant  missionaries  under  the  direction  of  the  Board 
the  death  of  Dr.  Wisner  will  be  painful  intelligence. 
To  the  American  churches,  with  whom  he  was  spe¬ 
cially  the  organ  of  correspondence,  it  may  seem  like  a 
frown  in  divine  providence.  But  we  say  again,  let 
none  despond;  the  Lord  loveth  Zion  with  an  everlast¬ 
ing  love.  He  rests  from  his  labors:  and  one  lesson  to 
be  learnt  from  his  removal  is,  not  to  place  our  trust 
in  man,  nor  in  the  son  of  man,  whose  breath  is  in  his 
nostrils.  The  cause  of  missions,  we  believe,  will  not 
be  retarded  in  its  progress.  His  two  associates  in 
the  office  of  secretary,  are  still  spared,  and  have  been 
long  and  intimately  acquainted  with  the  prudential 
concerns  of  the  Board,  and  are  knowTn,  and  confided 
in  by  the  public. 


31 


This  event,  painful  and  afflicting  as  it  is  to  a  be¬ 
reaved  and  weeping  widow,  to  numerous  relatives  and 
friends,  to  our  churches,  to  the  conductors  of  foreign 
missions,  to  the  agents  and  missionaries  of  the  Board, 
and  to  the  Board  itself,  and  to  the  Christian  com¬ 
munity,  calls  upon  us  to  put  our  confidence  in  God, 
to  be  more  diligent  in  our  Master’s  service,  to  do  with 
our  might  in  our  Lord’s  vineyard  what  our  hands  find 
to  do.  Let  us  work  while  the  day  lasts,  for  the  night 
cometh  in  which  no  man  can  work! 

“Blessed  are  the  dead,  who  die  in  the  Lord.” 
Thrice  blessed  art  thou,  servant  of  the  living  God, 
for  thy  labor  is  ended, — thy  conflicts  are  over, — thy 
victory  is  won, — thy  triumph  has  commenced, — thy 
reward  is  eternal!  While  we  deposit  thy  remains  in 
the  tomb,  to  rise  not  again  until  the  heavens  be  no 
more,  we  cannot  but  exclaim,  Thou  sainted  spirit, 
thrice  happy,  who  hast  gone  home  to  kindred  spirits 
in  glory  to  welcome  the  multitudes,  who,  from  gen¬ 
eration  to  generation,  shall  go  up  thither  through  thy 
instrumentality,  to  sing  with  thyself  the  song  of  Moses 
and  the  Lamb  forever  and  ever! 


. 


f 


I 


